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June 18 2012

Fishing over the weekend was awesome! Looks like a great week coming up with temps in the high 70s and 80s – perfect for that fishing trip to the Missouri River. You might consider coming mid-week if you can to avoid crowds.

The Missouri River in South Dakota is one of the best places to fish in North America -not only for walleye, but smallmouth bass, northern, white bass and catfish.Like us on Facebook – for up-to-date reports from our businesses and the area.

Lake Oahe

In the Pollock area fishing is going pretty good with minnows, crawlers and leeches being used by anglers in under 10-20 feet depth. All bait seems to be working and as before with the bite being shallow. With the shallow bite, the shore fishing is still good. Northern are still coming in along with smallmouth bass. Anglers caught lots of fish over this past weekend At Mobridge fishing seems to be good everywhere. Anglers are using jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches. Shore fishing is still great around Mobridge. Fish seem to be biting almost everywhere around the Mobridge area and here to they are fishing shallow – 5 to 25 feet.At Akaska fishing is still really good. There are lots of smaller fish, but are seeing some bigger and fatter fish coming in. Anglers are using jigs and minnows, but the minnow bite is slowing a bit. They are also using crawlers, leeches and bottom bouncers. There is good fishing in 5-15 feet. You need to try different depths to find what’s working for that day – but shallow still seems to work better at times.At Gettysburg the bite is good with anglers fishing in around 10-25 feet – again, using jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches – all bait seems to be working here too. The smallmouth population is excellent and the bite is excellent! You’ll have to do a lot of sorting with the walleye here as in other areas on the river.Around Spring Creek / Cow Creek salmon are being caught around the intakes at the face of the dam in 25-50 feet and also in shallow water and at Spring Creek. Salmon are averaging 6-8 lbs. Walleye are fantastic everywhere in around 10-25 ft. Anglers are using jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and a shiner or spinners and crawlers. All bait seems to be working well. Shallow along the mud lines have been good areas to target.Northern are still biting here as they are on the entire river system. White bass and smallmouth are starting around this area too. Walleye fishing is excellent from the face of the Oahe Dam to the Cheyenne arm and on up to the North Dakota border. You can’t go wrong on Oahe right now!

Lake Sharpe

Fishing on all of Lake Sharpe is outstanding from the Oahe Dam down to West Bend and on to Big Bend Dam – the entire length of the lake. You’ll have to do lots of sorting of fish to get over the 15 inch size, but there are plenty to catch. The size limit will be coming off during July and August. Not unusual to catch 50-100 per boat. All areas seem to be good. Main bait being used is Lindy rigs with a shiner or a jig and minnow or spinners and leeches. Some are using Lindy rigs with leeches, shiners and crawlers. Shore fishing from the tailrace below the dam to the Stilling Basin is still excellent. Catfish, northern, smallmouth and white bass are also being caught. Walleye are being caught in about 10-15 feet or more. Anglers are using spinners and crawlers, jigs and minnows, shiners or leeches. At West Bend the fishing is going really well using jigs and minnows or shiners with crawlers being used here too. The walleye are looking excellent. Smallmouth and white bass are going well in this area.Around Big Bend Dam on Lake Sharpe there is a very good smallmouth bite. Walleye are still mainly on the flats and points – and shallow. The area from the Grain Bins to Iron nation has seen a good bite this past week. Anglers are using bottom bouncers, minnows, crawlers and leeches.

Francis Case

Around Chamberlain fishing is still excellent with boats bringing in 50-100 fish per day. A good area seems to be from Carpenter Bluffs to White River. Fishing is also good around the bridges and on down Francis Case. Anglers are using jigs & minnows or crawlers and leeches in 10 -35 foot depths. You have to catch a lot of fish to get the size you need, but the fishing action is great. Limits are coming in from the Crow Creek area. The White bass bite is excellent, mainly in the fast water.In the Platte area the fishing results have been really good with lots of limits coming in. Again Jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches seem to work best in 15-25 feet. The fish are looking good. The smallmouth bite is going well – in the bays and shallow waters – and from shore.

At the Pickstown - Wagner – Lake Andes area fishing is still excellent below the Fort Randall Dam, with anglers pulling plugs or using jigs and minnows. Above the dam from North Point, South Scalp Creek and White Swan all the way to Pease creek it’s awesome. Anglers are using jigs and minnows, crawlers and leeches – in about 10-20 feet with 8-10 feet for walleye a good depth. Shore fishing is excellent all over this area too. Good reports are still coming in on the small mouth bass, northern, perch and crappie bite.Prairie Dog Bay and South Shore have new large parking lots by the boat docks – check them out!! Around Lewis & Clark Lake walleye are being caught trolling from the Marina to Gavin’s Point/Colonies and Boy Scout area – on jigs and minnows.On the Missouri River catfish are being caught on cut bait and stink bait. Also white bass and drum are being caught on worms and minnows.

Springfield Area – anglers are catching walleye on jigs & minnows and are trolling.On Lake Yankton anglers are pulling in bluegill, crappie, catfish and largemouth bass.*Please remember that the fishing conditions on the Missouri River change constantly and this report is simply a guideline – a snapshot in time.*